Plans to build modern "blob" building on Letna Plain meet resistance from Prague politicians

One of the most controversial construction projects in the modern history
of the Czech Republic has evidently come undone. The National Library had
planned to build a large green-and-violet building, nicknamed the Blob, on
Letna Plain, not far from Prague Castle. But city politicians are
reportedly ready to scupper that idea, and it now seems that plans will
have to be toned down - or the project moved out of the centre of the city
completely.

Today a little tram depo stands in the corner of Letna Plain between
Sparta
football stadium and Hradcanska metro station, just a stone's throw from
Prague Castle. Prague Town Hall last year agreed to sell this land to the
National Library. But that was before city politicians saw the winning
design by Czech-born London-based architect Jan Kaplicky; massive, green
and violet, and often compared to an octopus, it has stirred great
controversy.

Among the Blob's opponents is President Vaclav Klaus, who went so far as
to say he would block construction with his own body. His party, the Civic
Democrats, control Prague Town Hall - and they are now reported to be
refusing to sell the site to the National Library, unless plans are
significantly changed.

Prague Mayor Pavel Bem had this to say on Czech Television on Thursday:

Pavel Bem"In terms of its height and size it's very unlikely to suit this
location. It would suit Prosek or Pankrac, where it would make the area
more attractive. Some not particularly attractive district would become
another of the city's jewels."

Mayor Bem is among those who believe the nine-story construction would
stick out like a sore thumb on the city's historical skyline.

"Why should such an interesting building stand practically in
the
middle of Prague's historical monument reservation? The area doesn't need
this building - and that's the kernel of the debate. But at the moment
this
isn't a political issue - it's an issue of architectural
expertise."

Some Czech architects are opposed to the plans for the National Library
building. Indeed, the Czech Chamber of Architects say Jan Kaplicky's
design
did not meet original tender. But, speaking on Thursday from the offices
of
his company Future Systems in London, Mr Kaplicky said the furore does
have
a political aspect:

"From this morning on it's an entirely political discussion and
architects should stay on the side of it...It's strange and sad that this
is happening. It's also partially a very Czech problem, but that's a very
different discussion.

Vlastimil Jezek, photo: CTK"I can't comment on the comments of political people. I'm an
architect, not a politician. But they didn't state any reason why it
shouldn't happen - why shouldn't it happen? Not a single reason, they
should give us some reason.

"This was happening in Prague before under a different regime.
It's
very dangerous when just one party can dictate what buildings are built
and
what buildings aren't built."

The question now is, what next? The director of the Czech National
Library, Vlastimil Jezek, says the institution is ready to consider making
changes to its plans, either by amending the design of the Blob, or
building elsewhere. But that depends on the accord of Jan Kaplicky, and
for
now the world renowned architect is not saying if he will allow changes to
the only project of his
ever accepted in the country of his birth.